West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1887-02-11

are in favor of every intelligent
measure calculated to diminish the
use of intoxicants but we are oppos-
ell to legislation that destroys prop
erty without compensation and with
out the slightest benefit to the pub
lie. It will not diminish the use of
beer to remove the Wheeling brew
cries across the river into Ohio. All
the whiskey manufactured in Mar
tinsburg is shipped 10 Philadelphia
for sale and, it is practically impos-
sible, as we understand, to purchase
direct from the distillery. Some OF
the gentlemen who are very earnest
for this prohibition amendment are
sincere and are actuated by the best
motives. but will they please tell as
how it will reduce the consumption
of whiSkey TO pass law tha1 re-
moves the Martinsburg distillery
ten miles into Maryland so that that
State will receive the benefit of an
enterprise which is now located in
West Virginia. The prohibition
amendment should be entitled,-'A
law to remove West Virginia distil-
leries and breweries into the adjoin-
inc States and thereby give trans
portation companies the business of
bringing their products to this
State" The true friends of temper
ance wish an act entitled: "A law
to diminish the consumption of in
tOxicants by prohibiting transpOrta-
ton companies from delivering in
toxieants in counties where the sale
is prohibited by the local authori-
ties"
One purpose of the State consti-
tuition is to prevent sudden and
ill-considered change in the law.
Hence, no change in the Constitu-
ton can be made unless the pro-
posed amendment:
l. BE read on three several days
in each House.
>. BE AGREED TO on its third read
inc by two thirds of the members
elected thereto, and unless it be Tati
fed by the people at the next gen
eral election.
Itwill be observed that the amend
ment must be AGREED To by two
thirds of the members In other
words,t the Constitution contemplates
that no amendment shall be submit
ted TO the people unless two thirds
of the members AGREE TO such
amendment. That is, two-thirds
uldst be ofOpinion that such amend
nent ought TO be adopted. 1t is in
conceivable to us how a member of
the Legislature should "AGREE TO an
amendment" and vet 1T the same
time declare his purpose to vote
against it at the polls. In order
that there NAV he no dispute about
this matter ~ print the constitu-
ton:
Any amendment may be proposed
in either House; and if the same,
being read on three several days in
each House, be agreed TO on it's
third reading by two-thirds of the
members elected thereto, the propOs-
ed amendment shall be entered on
the Journals, and the Legislature
shall! provide for submitting the
same to the people for ratification or
rejection at the next general election.
The vote on the amendment, did
not involve the right Of petition.
The Question was,-wbether the
members could AGREE TO the propo-
sition, tina; the manufacture ought
to be prohibited here while it is per-
mitted in all the adjoining Sta,es?
The question was,-whether the
torch of an ineendiary should be APP
piled to $1.5OO,OO0 Of invested capt
tai, when the burning of the build
ings would only increase the bust
ness ofsimilar establishments in the
adjoining States?